As mentioned above, the SDA Church uses the word "Trinity" (once--as the title of belief #2) in their current official statement of 28 "Fundamental Beliefs" (although in some instances, the statement of beliefs is published with the word "Godhead" substituted for the word "Trinity"). 14:7.)" ( At first glance many may think that this statement appears to be orthodox-sounding.

First, here is a good description of the Christian definition of the Trinity: "In Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is one being who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as a mutual indwelling of three persons: the Father, the Son (incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth), and the Holy Spirit.

Since the 4th century, in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doctrine has been stated as 'three persons in one God,' all three of whom, as distinct and co-eternal persons, are of one indivisible Divine essence, a simple being. title=Trinity&oldid=148650755) The Biblical, orthodox doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is only one God (which is affirmed throughout the Old and New Testaments).

In other words, there is only one living Being that is God. In the early days of Seventh-day Adventism, they (including their prophetess Ellen G.

As the Nicene Creed affirms, Jesus Christ is "of one Being with the Father." God is one spirit, not three spirits. White) taught some form of Arianism--denying the eternality of Jesus Christ, denying the personality of the Holy Spirit, and teaching bitheism, or two gods: the eternal Father and the non-eternal Son.

Eventually, "the Holy Spirit" got added into this "Godhead" as one of "three living persons of the heavenly trio"1 and one of "the three holiest Beings in heaven"2--and the current SDA teaching of Tritheism (that there are three divine beings in "the Godhead" who are "one" only in purpose, character, etc.) was born.

In other words, Adventism's teaching of polytheism is foundational, fundamental, and continuing--and goes deep into the roots/foundation of Adventism, which was established by their "pioneers" (including their prophetess Ellen G. The SDA Church gradually adopted the use of the term "Trinity" to describe this tritheistic view of the Godhead, eventually culminating in the official General Conference session endorsement, in 1946, of a statement of beliefs that incorporated the word "Trinity."3 Beginning in 1980, the SDA Church finally stated (although, in reality, disingenuously as we'll see later) in their official statement of "Fundamental Beliefs" that Christ is "eternal."4 So while they now, officially, use the term "Trinity," in reality they deny the Trinity and actually teach Tritheism, just like the Mormons do. But that does not make any of them Trinitarian, any more than the Jehovah's Witnessess using the terms "Jesus Christ" or "Son of God" means that they believe in the real Jesus of the Bible.

The Mormons will also use the term Trinity, as does modalist preacher T. They have simply redefined Christian terms--and so have the Mormons, T. Jakes, and the Seventh-day Adventists, with regard to the term "Trinity." In fact, as we will see later on, even the SDA Church's own theologians/scholars admit that Adventism teaches a different "Trinity" doctrine than the historical, orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

Now, let us explore what Adventism teaches about this essential point of doctrine.

SDA scholars admit that Adventism has a different "Trinity" doctrine than orthodox Christianity!